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Emmys 2011: 'Big Bang' star explains Charlie Sheen chat

September 18, 2011 | 6:49
pm

When Charlie Sheen presented Jim Parsons with his award for lead actor in a comedy, “The Big Bang Theory” star appeared visibly uncomfortable. But after the handoff, Sheen was nothing but nice to Parsons, the Emmy winner told reporters backstage.

“He just congratulated me and said, ‘That’s awesome,’” Parsons recalled of the post-win exchange with Sheen. “It was that sweet and that banal, I’m afraid. I wish there was something lurid to say.”

There was also nothing all that dramatic about him beating costar Johnny Galecki, Parsons insisted. The actor said that Galecki –- a first-time nominee this year –- sent him a text message earlier in the day relaying his anxiety over the impending telecast.

“We did text today, and he mentioned to me that it was a butterfly-making day and he’d been on-and-off the treadmill all day,” said Parsons. “I texted back and said, ‘I agree. It’s nerve-racking, and the treadmill definitely helps.’ I happened to do the elliptical this morning, but close enough.”

Parsons, who took home the same award at last year’s event, said he was more shocked to win the prize the second time around –- especially with Steve Carell as a favorite for his final season on “The Office.”

“That was what my mother had said, along with other prognosticators,” he said of Carell’s likely win. “It would have been very richly deserved on his part. He’s just done such a wonderful job on that show for such a consistent, long time period. That’s really who I thought it would be. I really felt it would be anybody but me, and Steve had a better chance than maybe the rest.”